In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, which included several changes impacting health care affordability, coverage access, and other federal assistance for individuals who enroll in coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
Need help getting covered? Our statewide enrollment assisters can help. There are over 900 navigators located in your community at clinics and community support organizations and over 1600 state-certified brokers that can provide plan recommendations.
Our application specialists are also available at the Customer Support Center (1-855-923-4633; TTY: 1-855-627-9604) to help you get covered and can provide assistance in over 200 languages.
Review this webpage often if you have questions about the new federal financial help. The information below will be updated regularly.
Monthly Premium Assistance For Washington Healthplanfinder Customers in 2021 and 2022
The American Rescue Plan expanded the existing premium tax credit program and provides additional assistance in 2021 for individuals who are approved or receiving unemployment income.
This new benefit will be available starting in early-May 2021 at wahealthplanfinder.org.
Current customers will receive a notification from Washington Healthplanfinder with additional information in April.
You are eligible for tax credits if you:
Buy health insurance through Washington Healthplanfinder
Don’t have access to other insurance options through work or another government program
Are a U.S. citizen or legal resident
File a tax return as single, head of household, or married filing jointly
You can sign-in to your account and either “View Current Eligibility Results” under the Account Navigation Menu on your Account Home page or review your more recent Eligibility Result correspondence through your account Message Center.
Yes. The American Rescue Plan increases the amount of premium tax credits you receive, which reduces your premiums. The exact amount your premium will go down depends on where you live, how old you are, and how much money you make.
For example, if you are a 40-year-old resident with an annual income of $30,000 and already pay a reduced premium of $195/month for a silver plan, your monthly premium will go down to $85/month.
If you are eligible for employer-sponsored health insurance with a premium that costs less than 9.83% or less of your household income, then you will not be eligible for premium tax credits. If your employer-sponsored health insurance is more expensive, you may be eligible for enhanced tax credits under the American Rescue Plan.
You can sign up for coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder to find out if you qualify for premium tax credits. Be sure to select yes to the question that asks about financial help.
Nothing. Washington Healthplanfinder will update the amount of tax credits you are eligible for in early-May, which will apply to your premiums effective June 1.
For months you are enrolled in a health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder before June, you will receive the additional premium tax credits you are eligible for when you file your 2021 taxes.
The new tax credit amounts will be applied to your premium beginning in June. However, you may receive your June invoice before the updates are reflected. Overpayments for June premiums will be credited to future months.
If you have questions, you should contact your carrier.
Yes. The ACA lowered premiums for people who had incomes up to 400% of Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – $51,040 per year (or $104,800 per year for a family of 4).
Having a higher income meant that you did not qualify for premium reductions under the ACA. The American Rescue Plan protects everyone, regardless of income. No one will pay more than 8.5% of their income on health insurance premiums.
Yes. If you have been approved for, received, or are receiving unemployment income during any week in 2021, and are eligible for premium tax credits, you will receive the maximum amount of premium tax credits.
To receive the maximum amount of premium tax credits, you must report your receipt of unemployment income in Washington Healthplanfinder.
The expanded tax credit program under the American Rescue Plan is for all of 2021 and all of 2022, unless Congress extends or makes the program permanent.
Additional premium assistance for individuals who are approved for or receive unemployment income during 2021 is only for 2021. You can find more information about reporting your unemployment income here.
No. Not everyone will qualify for monthly premium reductions. Some people who would be newly eligible for premium assistance already pay less than 8.5% of their income on premiums.
It depends. If your Washington Healthplanfinder account is up to date with your current contact and income information (including if you have received unemployment income in 2021), then you do not have to do anything. You will automatically receive the new benefit in early-May which will begin to apply to your June premiums.
If your Washington Healthplanfinder account is not up to date – if you have not entered your current contact information, your income, or indicated if you have received unemployment income in 2021– you should take action before May to update your account, to ensure you get the maximum available benefit.
You can find more information on how to report a change here.
You must report your income in your application to be eligible for premium assistance.
Nothing. In early-May, Washington Healthplanfinder will automatically recalculate your monthly premium tax credits based on the information you have already provided. You will see lower monthly premiums automatically.
If you are currently enrolled and have not applied for tax credits or entered your current income into your Washington Healthplanfinder, you should take action before May to update your account to ensure you get the maximum available tax credits. Be sure to select yes to the question that asks about financial help.
You can find more information on how to report income here.
You must report your income in your application to be eligible for premium assistance.
You can sign up for coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder and receive the additional premium tax credits you may qualify for under the American Rescue Plan beginning in June. For the months you are enrolled in a health plan through Washington Healthplanfinder before June, you will receive the additional premium tax credits you are eligible for when you file your 2021 taxes.
Opportunities to Enroll or Adjust Coverage
Yes. There is a current special enrollment period open to Washingtonians who are:
Currently uninsured
Seeking coverage
Enrolled in off-Exchange health insurance (such as short-term limited duration plans or COBRA)
Have non-insurance coverage through health sharing ministries
If you are eligible for tax credits, you will be eligible for the enhanced tax credits under the American Rescue Plan for each month you are enrolled in coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder. The enhanced tax credit amounts will be applied to your premiums beginning June 1. For months you are enrolled in coverage before June, you will be eligible to receive the additional tax credits when you file your 2021 taxes.
If you enroll in coverage before the system is updated in May, you will not see the new tax credit amounts at the time you sign up on Washington Healthplanfinder. You will have the new tax credit amounts automatically applied to your premiums beginning June 1.
Yes, if you are currently enrolled in coverage, you will be able to switch your health plan to another plan option with your existing health carrier when you get the additional federal premium tax credits.
Customers currently enrolled in a Bronze plan with a high deductible may be able to reduce their out-of-pocket costs without seeing a significant premium increase. For example, if you earn $25,000 a year and are enrolled in a Bronze plan, you may be eligible for a cost-sharing reduced (CSR) Cascade Silver plan with a $750 deductible for under $50 a month.
If you are currently enrolled and not getting premium tax credits and want to switch plans after you start receiving them, sign in to your Washington Healthplanfinder account after May 15 and change your plan. If you are currently enrolled and receiving tax credits and want to switch plans after you receive more tax credits, contact the Customer Support Center, a broker, or navigator for assistance.
Contact your health carrier if you are interested in finding out if any amounts already paid toward your 2021 deductible or out-of-pocket maximum will transfer to your new plan.
Yes. There is a current special enrollment period open to you, and you may enroll in coverage today on Washington Healthplanfinder.
If you are eligible for tax credits, you will be eligible for the enhanced tax credits under the American Rescue Plan for each month you are enrolled in coverage on Washington Healthplanfinder. The enhanced tax credit amounts will be applied to your premiums beginning June 1. However, for months you are enrolled in coverage before June, you will be eligible to receive the additional tax credits when you file your 2021 taxes.
If you enroll in coverage before May, you will not see the new tax credit amounts at the time you sign up on Washington Healthplanfinder, but you will have the new tax credit amounts automatically applied to your premiums beginning June 1.
If you enroll in health coverage or switch your plan before the 15th of the month, your coverage will begin on the 1st of the next month. If you enroll in coverage or switch your plan after the 15th of the month, your coverage will begin on the 1st of the following month.
For example, if you enroll in coverage on June 10, your coverage will begin on July 1. If you enroll in coverage on June 16, your coverage will begin on August 1.
Currently enrolled customers who are interested in switching to a new plan with their existing health carrier should consult with their carrier to find out if any amounts paid towards the 2021 deductible or out-of-pocket maximum will transfer to their new plan.
Some health carriers may honor your amounts paid towards your 2021 deductible or out-of-pocket maximum and apply those amounts towards your new coverage. However, your specific situation will depend on the carrier you are enrolled with.
Additional Monthly Premium Assistance For Washington Healthplanfinder Customers Who Received Unemployment Income in 2021
The American Rescue Plan extends the maximum amount of premium tax credits for all 2021 to individuals who are approved for or receive unemployment income for any week in 2021.
Yes. You qualify if you received unemployment income during any week in 2021. You do not have to be receiving unemployment income when you apply for health coverage.
For example, if you received unemployment insurance January 1 through January 7, 2021 and apply for health coverage June 1, 2021, you will qualify for the maximum amount of premium tax credits for 2021.
No. You do not qualify if you are eligible for other coverage such as Apple Health, Medicare, or employer-sponsored coverage.
The additional premium assistance for individuals who are approved for or receive unemployment income in 2021 will expire December 31, 2021.
In 2022, you may still be eligible for expanded premium assistance provided under the American Rescue Plan to residents regardless of unemployment.
Yes. If you receive unemployment income in 2021, you also get cost-sharing reductions. To receive this benefit, you must select a silver level health plan. When you enroll in a silver plan, you will have a very low deductible and will have very low copays and coinsurance when you use your benefits. If you enroll in a bronze or gold plan, the regular deductibles, copays and co-insurance apply.
For example, if you enroll in a Cascade Silver plan, your deductible will be $150 and the cost of a primary care visit will be $3. If you were to enroll in a Cascade Bronze plan, your deductible would be $6,000 and the cost of a primary care visit would be $50.
This new benefit will be available on Washington Healthplanfinder starting in early-May. Sign into wahealthplanfinder.org to enroll.
Yes. If you receive unemployment income in 2021, you also get cost-sharing reductions. To receive this benefit, you must select a silver level health plan. When you enroll in a silver plan, you will have a low deductible, low copays, and coinsurance when you use your benefits. If you enroll in a bronze or gold plan, the regular deductibles, copays, and co-insurance apply.
If you are currently enrolled in a silver plan through WashingtonHealthplanfinder, you do not need to take any action to receive this benefit. If you are currently enrolled in a catastrophic, bronze, or gold plan through Washington Healthplanfinder, you will need to switch plans to take advantage of these lower out-of-pocket costs for 2021.
For example, if you enroll in a Cascade Silver plan, your deductible will be $150, and the cost of a primary care visit will be $3. If you were to enroll in a Cascade Bronze plan, your deductible would be $6,000 and the cost of a primary care visit would be $50.
Free COBRA Coverage for Laid-Off Residents
The American Rescue Plan pays for 100% of your COBRA premiums.
The federal government will pay your COBRA premiums through September 30, 2021.
The American Rescue Plan provides for the federal government to pay your COBRA premiums through September 30, 2021. When your COBRA assistance runs out, you may be eligible for a special enrollment period to enroll in coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
If you received unemployment income following job loss, you may be eligible for tax credits that make your premiums nearly free and cost-sharing reduced silver health plans. If you did not receive unemployment income at any time in 2021, you may still be eligible for expanded premium assistance for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
Yes. Loss of coverage is a qualifying life event that permits you to enroll in coverage outside of open enrollment. If you do not elect COBRA coverage, you are eligible to enroll in coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
Under the American Rescue Plan, you may also be eligible for extensive premium assistance, paying as little as a few dollars per month on premiums for health coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder.
Need help getting covered? Our statewide enrollment assisters can help. There are over 900 navigators located in your community at clinics and community support organizations and over 1600 state-certified brokers that can provide plan recommendations.
Our application specialists are also available at the Customer Support Center (1-855-923-4633; TTY: 1-855-627-9604) to help you get covered and can provide assistance in over 200 languages.
You can find more information about COBRA and Marketplace coverage following loss of a job at healthcare.gov, or you may contact the United States Department of Labor (DOL), the agency that administers COBRA. The toll-free telephone number for DOL is (866) 444-EBSA (3272), or see COBRA Premium Subsidy information on the Employee Benefits Security Administration Web site.
No. The American Rescue Plan extended one-time $1,400 payments to individuals ($2,800 joint filers and $1,400 for each child), but this income is non-taxable. Do not include this payment when reporting your income in Washington Healthplanfinder.
You can find more information about reporting pandemic-related assistance here.
No. The American Rescue Plan expanded the child tax credit to $3,000 for children aged 6 to 17 ($3,600 for children under 6), paid in advance payments from July to December 2021. This income is non-taxable. Do not include this payment when reporting your income in Washington Healthplanfinder.
